The Angry Dietitianhttps://angrydietitian.wordpress.com
Addressing misinformation about food, nutrition, and more...Tue, 20 Mar 2018 02:04:38 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.com/https://secure.gravatar.com/blavatar/2e119f5a62a7bbbcd6245663b501fff6?s=96&d=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.wp.com%2Fi%2Fbuttonw-com.pngThe Angry Dietitianhttps://angrydietitian.wordpress.com
It’s about damn time, Dr. Ozhttps://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/its-about-damn-time-dr-oz/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/its-about-damn-time-dr-oz/#respondWed, 18 Jun 2014 00:31:10 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=122I cannot tell you how many times my patients have quoted Dr. Oz to me. And I have had to argue that this man is in the entertainment industry. He is in the business of making money. He has made my job, and many other health professionals’ jobs, far more difficult. Before I can teach my patients what they actually need to know, I have to undo the damage of incorrect information. What he does it wrong. It’s about time someone else feels this way and is trying to correct the situation. Please, read the following article. And always, always remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Use your common sense people.

]]>https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/its-about-damn-time-dr-oz/feed/0reneebruppCarb Confusionhttps://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/carb-confusion/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/carb-confusion/#respondWed, 11 Jun 2014 01:36:29 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=111What do you think of when you hear the word “carbohydrates”? Some people think carbs are synonymous with bad foods. When I educate patients at work and ask them if they know what foods have carbs, they sigh and roll their eyes and say, “All the good stuff.” Low carb fad diets, such as Atkins and the Paleo diet, have played a part in the confusion surrounding carbohydrates.

First of all, CARBS ARE NOT BAD. Our food is categorized into three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein and fat. Approximately, 50% of the calories we consume should come from carbs. Carbohydrates are our primary source of energy and our brains function entirely on carbs. How many of you have attempted a low carb diet and just felt exhausted and completely like crap?? This happens because you are depriving your body of its main fuel.

So, what foods have carbs? I generally break them up in to 5 categories:

1. Starches: Breads, pasta, rice, and cereal

2. Fruit and fruit juices

3. Dairy: Milk, yogurt and cheese

4. Starchy Vegetables: Beans, peas, potatoes and corn

5. Added sugar: Regular sodas, desserts, candy, etc

Another misconception regarding carbs is that anything white is bad for you. This is just silly. Potatoes are a very nutritious food. Cauliflower is great. Wheat bread still has carbs even though it’s brown. Color has nothing to do with carbohydrate content.

The problem regarding carbohydrate intake is portion size, just like everything else in the American diet. Too much of a good thing becomes a bad thing. Six cups of macaroni and cheese isn’t good for anyone. It’s all about balance and moderation.

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]]>https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/carb-confusion/feed/0reneebruppCarbohydratesretro32What the heck is BMI???https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/what-the-heck-is-bmi/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/what-the-heck-is-bmi/#commentsWed, 04 Jun 2014 23:06:29 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=107It’s funny, when you become so immersed in a culture or knowledge set, certain ideas and words and phrases become your norm of thinking. You could say that I see the world through “dietitian” colored glasses. There are days at work that pull me out of my usual line of thinking that help me see things from a different perspective. BMI is one of those things that is so ingrained in my understanding that I don’t even think twice about it. It’s easy to forget that this may not be common knowledge. BMI is an example of this.

BMI stands for body mass index and is one way that our health can be assessed. Theoretically, BMI is supposed to be a number that represents the level of body fatness. BMI is strictly based on height and weight and is not affected by gender.

When I do hear about BMI in the media, it is usually referencing how inaccurate using BMI is. BMI does have it’s flaws. People who have a large percentage of muscle mass (such as athletes and body builders) may have a BMI that puts them in the obese category when they are clearly not obese. BMI is simply one method of assessment. Responsible practitioners view a person as a whole and will not have a knee-jerk reaction to a single assessment. In my personal practice, it is simply a starting point to a full nutrition assessment. For average individuals, which is most of the population, the BMI is a fair indicator of weight status. Please note that there is an additional formula to calculate BMI for amputees to adjust for the missing limb.

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]]>https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/what-the-heck-is-bmi/feed/2reneebruppbmi-imagecf916f40ec3d63aeda1bb78c1b1e6cabWhat, exactly, do you think I do?https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/05/24/what-exactly-do-you-think-i-do/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/05/24/what-exactly-do-you-think-i-do/#respondSat, 24 May 2014 23:43:13 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=105Recently, I was talking to someone who knows I am a dietitian. I was talking about work and seeing patients. He said, “I thought you just walked around and handed papers to doctors.” I really had no idea what to say to this. For the record, I do not walk around all day and give doctors papers. I would like to know what you think a dietitian is. What comes to mind? If you are familiar with dietitians, what were your perceptions beforehand?

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]]>https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/05/24/what-exactly-do-you-think-i-do/feed/0reneebruppSugar is Sugar is Sugar is Sugarhttps://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/sugar-is-sugar-is-sugar-is-sugar/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/sugar-is-sugar-is-sugar-is-sugar/#commentsMon, 19 May 2014 00:39:07 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=99

Sugar. It seems to be one of the most confused topics out there. It has a terrible reputation and people seem to believe it’s evil. More than anything, I believe it’s misunderstood.

What is sugar? Well, nutritionally, sugars are the simple carbohydrates: glucose, fructose and galactose. Glucose is our primary energy source in our bodies and the building block of the complex carbohydrates. Fructose is naturally found in fruits and honey. Galactose is found in dairy products. Those three simple sugars can combine to create the complex carbohydrates:

Glucose + Glucose = Maltose

Glucose + Fructose = Sucrose

Glucose + Galactose = Lactose

Maltose is found in barley. Sucrose is in fruits, vegetables and grains. Sucrose is what also forms granulated sugar. And Lactose is in our dairy products. No matter what the type of sugar, it all breaks down into glucose in our bodies to be used as energy.

Sugar has become a hot topic because of the ever-growing obesity epidemic and diabetes. However, I constantly hear misinformation surrounding sugar. People think sugar-free foods are automatically good for you. They think that if it’s natural it has no calories. Added sugar and overeating have led to chronic problems such as obesity and diabetes. Honey, nectar and other natural sugar substitutes still contain sugar and calories and, in excess, will cause weight gain. They are just alternatives. When a food is labeled “sugar-free,” what it really means is there is no added sugar or a sugar substitute has been used. For example, sugar-free apple sauce: this means sugar has not been added to make it sweeter, but there is still the naturally occurring sugar from the fruit itself. Sugar-free also does not mean calorie-free.

Besides protein and fat, all of our food contains glucose, will raise our blood sugar and does have calories. Whether you are eating table sugar, honey or agave nectar, it is all reacting in your the same way.

I once went to a glass blowing demonstration at a Renaissance Festival. The glass blower spent the entire time lecturing the audience about how he has eliminated all sugar from his diet. False, sir. Otherwise you’d be dead.

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]]>https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/05/18/sugar-is-sugar-is-sugar-is-sugar/feed/2reneebrupp1071028_18650027A_little_sugar_in_my_bowlKnowledge is Powerhttps://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/05/13/knowledge-is-power/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/05/13/knowledge-is-power/#respondWed, 14 May 2014 01:52:32 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=95I know this post may not be immediately relevant to most people, but I have witnessed a lot of confusion surrounding this topic in the hospital. People fear tube feeding. This is an unfortunate misunderstanding and I see families making decisions based on the stigma surrounding tube feeding. I want to provide some insight into a seemingly scary situation so that you may be better equipped to make a difficult decision in the future.

So, there are certain conditions under which a person cannot eat. If your doctor thinks that this situation may last more than a few days, they may begin to consider nutrition support. (YES! You can go several days without eating and you will be fine. Promise! I do not recommend this just for kicks. But if you are in the hospital and haven’t eaten in three days, it’s not the end of the world.) First, let’s talk about some of the medical conditions that may require nutrition support. Reasons may include: having a condition that requires a large amount of calories and not being able to meet those needs by eating food, a blockage or obstruction within the intestine, inability to eat due to being on a ventilator, malabsorption issues, pancreatitis, etc.

Nutrition support comes in two forms: enteral nutrition (tube feeding) or parenteral nutrition (delivered through an IV). People believe these two routes of nutrition are interchangeable, but they are not. The basic rule of thumb is, “if the gut works, use it.” Meaning, if the gastrointestinal tract is still functioning, it should be used. There really are only a handful of conditions that actually require parenteral, or IV, nutrition. These can include an obstruction, chronic pancreatitis or being hemodynamically unstable. Nutrition delivered straight the the vein is much more serious. It is not a long-term option and is very hard on the liver, it requires very close monitoring of labs, and not using the gut can cause it to atrophy.

I realize that not being able to eat and having to rely on nutrition support is scary. I don’t wish anyone to be in that position. But I have seen so many families insist that their loved one not be tube fed but are fine with the IV, even though tube feeding would be much more beneficial. Tube feeding may appear scarier, because you either have a tube coming out of your nose or your stomach. And it’s just so easy to put something else through your IV. I get it. But if you are medically able, tube feeding is way more beneficial. Have an honest conversation with your doctor and be open to all options. This is merely a broad overview of a very complicated topic. Each person and illness is different.

If you are curious about tube feeding, there are actually tons of YouTube videos of people sharing their personal experiences. Many of them are children. Check it out.

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]]>https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/05/13/knowledge-is-power/feed/0reneebruppenteral_parenteral_fig1Shamelesshttps://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/shameless/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/shameless/#commentsSat, 19 Apr 2014 14:16:21 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=82Once upon a time, food was simply food. We ate because it was nourishment and went on with our day. We have entered a time of food abundance where overeating and unhealthy habits have become the norm. With the emergence of health trends and social media, we are starting to see food shaming. Food shaming is making others feel guilty or shameful of what they are eating. Apparently, this occurs at both ends of the spectrum: unhealthy and healthy foods. If you choose to eat unhealthy foods, you are considered gross and have no self-control. If you eat healthy foods, you are boring and pretentious.

Even as a dietitian, I don’t believe it is my place to make anyone ashamed of their food choices. I am here to provide knowledge to people who are in need of learning more about their food. There are a plethora of reasons why people eat what they eat. A lot of these reasons are psychological. We eat when we are bored, lonely, sad, happy, celebrating, or stressed. There are even times when we feel pressured to eat: someone cooked a homemade meal for you, everyone from work is going out to dinner together, and the old adage to “clean your plate.” We can even food shame ourselves. “I shouldn’t have eaten those brownies. I’m so weak.”

We need to change the way we think about food. First of all, we need to think about food as fuel and an investment in our future health. Food builds our bones, our muscles, and prevents diseases, among other things. Secondly, what other people eat is none of our business. The desire to eat a certain way comes from within. Food shaming will only perpetuate negative thoughts and emotions surrounding food. We need to create a positive environment and encourage those we care about to try different foods and inspire others to eat healthy.

]]>https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/shameless/feed/1reneebrupp08294331b6c32e2c142d203ebf48dbbfc7e952c7fa80ef98952e875e9779ad51Doughnut Judge Mehttps://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/doughnut-judge-me/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/doughnut-judge-me/#respondSat, 19 Apr 2014 13:46:45 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=79I recently wrote about people who expect to be judged by dietitians for their food choices. The other side of that coin is that people feel they have the right to openly judge dietitians. One day recently at work, I was on a unit of the hospital and the unit clerk offered me doughnuts from the break room. I declined. But then, I saw a nurse was eating a chocolate cake doughnut! Of all doughnuts, those are my absolute favorite. As I opened the doughnut box, the nurse informed me that it was the only one. I was standing there chatting with them when the unit director came up behind me and said, “I saw that!” I was completely confused. Was he talking to me? I didn’t do anything. He repeated, “I saw what you just did. You were looking at the doughnuts.” I finally realized what he was getting at and started to laugh it off. Then he said, “You dietitians think you’re all so righty-tighty, but you’re the worst of us all.” I was stunned. What do I say to that? I almost never talk to this guy, how have I ever given him that impression? I hadn’t even eaten a thing. I had peeked inside a doughnut box and was being reprimanded. How does anyone even think that is acceptable?

A second event that stands out in my mind happened at the dentist a couple of years ago. I was chatting with the hygienist as she was getting ready to clean my teeth. She asked me what I did and I told her I am a dietitian. She stood back a couple of feet and looked me up and down (like construction workers ogle women in movies). She then declared, “You’re a good size.” Why, thank you, total stranger for giving me approval of my body! This happens often enough to really piss me off. I find it appalling that people feel that have a right to pass judgement on me and my peers.

Granted, I cannot speak for all dietitians. But, speaking for myself and the dietitians that I know, we did not choose to become dietitians because we enjoy being the food police and love to judge what others are eating. We became dietitians because we have a passion for food and enjoy teaching others better ways to eat. We don’t eat “perfectly,” although we are conscious of the food we put in our bodies. We enjoy the occasional doughnut, just like everyone else.

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]]>https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/04/19/doughnut-judge-me/feed/0reneebruppFor the Love of Foodhttps://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/for-the-love-of-food/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/for-the-love-of-food/#commentsSun, 06 Apr 2014 15:07:31 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=73People often assume I eat perfectly because I am a dietitian. They think I only buy organic, follow all the trendiest diets and never eat junk or dessert. This then leads to an awkward sort of confessional where people blurt out the terrible things they just ate or how they know they shouldn’t be eating certain things. “Oh, I know this is terrible for me…” “Yes, I am eating pizza. Don’t judge me.” “Don’t let the dietitian see.” “Oh, let me take a picture of the dietitian eating a piece of candy.” It’s pretty weird.

The truth is, I chose to become a dietitian because I love food. I love to eat all kinds of food. I love to cook. I love to try new restaurants and new cuisines. But I also love food because it is a powerful, multifaceted aspect of our lives.

Food is universal. Everyone, regardless of race, belief, age or gender, has to eat to survive. Therefore, everyone has some level of interest or investment in food.

Food is special. Food is part of almost every celebration: birthdays, weddings, holidays. We have different foods for different occasions. Different foods for different cultures.

Food is powerful. Food can either help make you healthy and help treat different conditions or diseases, or it can slowly kill you from the inside out. Food has the power to directly affect our bodies and how we feel.

My appreciation for food probably stems from how I was raised. We always ate home-cooked meals around the dining room table. I was taught to cook at an early age and both my parents love food. All our vacations and time together focus equally on the planned activities as well as what the next meal will involve.

So, before you get down on your knees and confess your most recent sins to the next dietitian you meet, realize that they have a true appreciation for food and are not going to judge you. Unless you just ate six deep-fried Twinkies and a large deep dish pizza all by yourself. Then, you’re definitely being judged.

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]]>https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/04/06/for-the-love-of-food/feed/1reneebrupp95fb8867dea3e615a3acd1bb7b38261cNegative!https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/negative/
https://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/negative/#commentsFri, 28 Mar 2014 00:17:53 +0000http://angrydietitian.wordpress.com/?p=64Negative-calorie foods. I first stumbled across this notion on Pinterest. I, personally, am obsessed with Pinterest. But it is important to remember that this is not a great source of reliable information (much like Wikipedia).

The idea behind negative-calorie foods is that the energy it takes to digest and absorb that food is more than the calories that food contains. Below is a sample list of these foods.

However, this school of thought is not accurate. These are, in fact, very low calorie foods. And, we do burn calories during the digestive process (this is called the thermic effect of food). But, the thermic effect of food is only estimated to be 10% of our energy intake. So, a cup of asparagus is approximately 180 calories and the thermic effect of digesting the asparagus would be around 18 calories. This is no where close to negating the calories of the asparagus. Different food groups do have different thermic effects:

Carbohydrates: 5-10%

Fat: 0-5%

Protein 20-30%

Alcohol 15-25%

So, at most, we burn off 30% of the calories of some foods during digestion. But we never burn off 100% or more of the calorie content of that food. If negative-calorie foods actually did exist, don’t you think that’s all people would eat? And don’t you think you would have heard of it by now?